Intelligent Landscape Design

When most people think of landscape design, they think of the specific and detailed work which we at Kedleston Landscapes pride ourselves on – but in fact there’s quite a bit of smaller jobs which you can actually do yourself to brighten up your exterior spaces.

Many people think of landscaping as a secondary concern, but with a little care and attention, your garden can be a beautiful place to enjoy and take pride in. With these tips, you’ll be designing and spending time if your garden in to time at all.

The first thing to do is think of your garden as a whole. Consider where best to group plants, how their colours will compliment each other, and how to care for them easily, making sure that you won’t spend too much time labouring to keep them fresh and looking at their best.

With that in mind, however, there’s nothing wrong with concerning yourself with one particular space in your garden at any one time. Inspiration comes at the oddest times, and allowing yourself to fly with an idea you’ve had can lead to wonderful results. Make sure that you always plan for equipment access, even vehicle access if necessary, to ensure that you don’t have to undo any of your good work. Make sure the heavy lifting is done before thinking about smaller details.

Consider focal points as a place to start from, and make sure they’re maintained throughout the year. A water feature, statue / stonework, or garden swing can be  an idea centrepiece, and can carry the mood of your landscape: make sure these focal points are where you put the most effort, with the surrounding details complimenting but never competing with them. These focal points shouldn’t be too abrasive or visually imposing: subtlety is key.

Formal landscaping is a massive undertaking, and should ideally be left to professionals. Many’s the time a grand idea turns out to be simply too much work for an amateur to complete, leaving your garden looking unfinished and overthought. As above, keep it subtle, stylish and muted: if anything looks like it’d be too much, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. It’s easy to add on to a good idea; it’s hard and often heartbreaking to reduce an overambitious project.

Don’t overuse curves in your design. Too many will make your garden look claustrophic and pretentious. Curves can be used in even the smallest spaces, but make sure there’s only one main curve, and that all plantwork and features follow the same gradient. Once again, it’s better to be too subtle than too obvious.

Add interest and beauty to your landscape by considering movement. Ornamental grasses which move with the breeze can help turn a garden from a static, motionless painting to a living, breathing space which suggest life, activity, and homeliness. Plant flowers for butterflies and bees, and berry trees and shrubs for birds to enjoy.

Any of the above tips will help even beginners create a more beautiful garden – but, if you want the job done right first time, we’re always available to talk. Give Kedleston Landscapes a call today!